Matchroom Promoter, Eddie Hearn, has revealed that he is close to agreeing a deal with undisputed lightweight champion, Devin Haney, as the 24-year-old looks forward to his second fight of the year.
Haney defeated ring legend Vasiliy Lomachenko by a controversial unanimous-decision back in May, in a second successful defence of his undisputed 135lb crown.
Now, after campaigning in the lightweight division since his debut in 2015, ‘The Dream’ appears likely to move up to the 140lb scene, after a run of tough weight-cut’s.
Hearn told Boxing News that he is on the verge of agreeing terms for a clash between Haney and current WBC super-lightweight title holder, Regis Prograis, as the former sets his sights on becoming a two-division world champion.
“Talks are going well with Devin Haney, I think that we are going to reach a deal for him to fight Regis [Prograis].
We still need to reach a deal with Regis, to fight Devin Haney, and that’s the only exemption around the Sandor Martin fight, which is a good fight but not really one that Regis is chasing.
So, we are going to catch up with Devin again this week in L.A. and we are confident that we can make Haney-Prograis for the fall.”
A move up in weight has looked inevitable for Haney for some time, but many fans were hopeful that he would fight fellow unbeaten countryman, Shakur Stevenson, before he did so.
Instead, Stevenson may well get the chance to fight for at least one of Haney’s titles if he decides to vacate them, due to his position as the #1 contender with the WBO.
Gustavo Lemos (IBF), Vasiliy Lomachenko (WBC) and Gervonta Davis (WBA) will also have eyes on Haney’s next move, with the lightweight division seemingly on the verge of opening up once again.